AZ-204 Develop for Azure storage Practice Question
You are migrating an on-premises application to Azure. The application uses a network file share (NFS) to store files. You need to minimize code changes. Which Azure storage service should you use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse Azure Files with Azure Blob Storage, assuming both are 'file storage' in the cloud, but Blob Storage is object storage with a flat namespace and REST-based access, not a network file share that supports NFS or SMB protocols without significant code changes.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Azure Files
Azure Files provides fully managed file shares in the cloud that support the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol and the Network File System (NFS) protocol. Since your on-premises application already uses an NFS share, migrating to Azure Files with NFS support allows you to mount the share directly with minimal code changes, as the application can continue to use the same file system semantics and NFS client calls.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Azure Files
Why this is correct
Azure Files provides fully managed file shares in the cloud, accessible via industry-standard Server Message Block (SMB) and Network File System (NFS) protocols. This makes it an ideal solution for lift-and-shift migrations of on-premises applications that rely on shared file systems, as it allows existing applications to access files without requiring significant code changes. It supports both Windows and Linux clients, offering a seamless transition for file-dependent workloads to Azure.
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Azure Disk Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure Disk Storage provides persistent, high-performance block-level storage volumes primarily designed to be attached to Azure Virtual Machines (VMs). While it stores data, it functions as a virtual hard disk for a single VM, not a shared network file system accessible concurrently by multiple application instances or services. Therefore, it cannot directly replace an on-premises shared file share that multiple servers or applications access simultaneously.
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Azure Blob Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure Blob Storage is an object storage solution optimized for storing massive amounts of unstructured data, such as images, videos, backups, and archives. Unlike a traditional file share, Blob Storage uses a flat namespace and is accessed via REST APIs, not standard file system protocols like SMB or NFS. Migrating an application that expects a hierarchical file system to Blob Storage would typically require significant application refactoring to interact with the object storage API.
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Azure Queue Storage
Why it's wrong here
Azure Queue Storage is a messaging service designed for storing large numbers of messages that can be retrieved by application components. Its primary purpose is to enable asynchronous communication and decouple application components, facilitating scalable and resilient architectures. It is fundamentally a messaging solution, not a file storage service, and therefore completely unsuitable for migrating an application's file system dependencies.
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